Both Kidd and Pinckney have crews of more than 300 sailors each and are multi-mission ships designed to operate independently or with an associated strike group. While deployed, both ships will conduct theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations.

Kidd is named in honor of Rear Adm. Isaac C. Kidd who was killed on board his flagship, USS Arizona (BB 39), during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life during the attack.

Pinckney is named for Cook First Class William Pinckney, a World War II combat veteran who received the Navy Cross for his courageous rescue of a fellow crew member on board USS Enterprise (CV 6) during the Battle of Santa Cruz that took place Oct. 26, 1942.